Gusher valve



June 21, 1 H1 DE FREES GUSHER VALVE Filed Sept. l2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .33* 58 3.35 gig /4/2 i l J 40 :2 6: 2]) 20 /z Z5 /aJ j-gl.

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INVENTOR.

June 21, 196,6 J. H. DE FREEs 3,257,093

GUSHER VALVE Filed Sept. l2, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR. @sf/H bf. EfF/SEgs June 21 1966 J. H. DE FRI-:Es 3,257,093

GUSHER VALVE Filed Sept. 12, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENT OR. Jo'sfP/s/ f7. iff/fifa HTIv/P/VEYS' flammable liquids such as gasoline or the like.

United States Patent O 3,257,093 GUSHER VALVE Joseph H. De Frees, 414 Liberty St., Warren, Pa. Filed Sept. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 308,471 3 Claims. (Cl. 251-61) The invention relates to novel and improved liquid discharge control means particularly adapted for use in connection with containers for the storage or transportation of liquids of any kind, -and particularly explosive or in- My novel discharge means can also be used as a charging control valve in a bottom loading system, and it is an improvement on the valve structure shown in my copending application for Gusher Emergency Valve, iiled January 13, 1960, Serial No. 2,211, now Patent Number 3,125,320.

Liquid storage or transportation tanks usually have a bottom discharge or outlet opening and a valve control therefor. `If the outlet connections are damaged by accident or otherwise, discharge of the contents might result in a disastrous tire with possible serious injury to the attendant, truck driver, or others in the vicinity. Socalled emergency valve structures have from time to time been devised to prevent any discharge of the liquid except when the operator is in conscious control of the discharge operation.

Such emergency valve is usually in a relatively inaccessible position, for instance immediately wit-hin the tank bottom, so as not to be susceptible to injury from collision or the like. In liquid flow communication with .the emergency valve is a conventional operator-controlled valve, and both this valve and the emergency valve, being in series in the direction of liquid ilow, must be opened to permit liquid discharge from the container.

It is customary, in the case of a multi-chambered tank, to carry the discharge passages from. all the emergency valves to a common manifold, at which point the how from each compartment may be controlled .at a single operators control box. v

An object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved emergency valve operating means, per-mitting a high discharge flow rate, with reduced turbulence and increased etliciency `of discharge flow.

A further object of the invention is to provide an emergency valve of the character defined in the last preceding paragraph in which fluid pressure operating means responds to .the fluid pressure flexure of a resilient diaphragm, preferably formed from ru'bberlike material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve structure in which all movable valve-operating parts are contained entirely within the tank structure, while permitting extremely high rates of flow.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following description of one embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, and showing an emergency valve in closed position, and constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detailed View, on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing portions of the structure of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View, similar to the same parts shown in FIG. 1, but showing the valve in open position.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively on the section-indicating lines 4-4 and 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken similarly to FIG. 3, but showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

to ange 12a.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, looking upwardly from the position of the line 7 7 on FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings I show an upper wall portion 10 and lower wall portion 11 of a tank compartment which may be circular or elliptical in vertical transverse section. The lower wall is apertured to provide an outturned ange 11a to which is integrally welded a drain pocket 12 of dished contour. 'Ihis drain pocket in tu-rn is centrally apertured to provide a discharge port defined by an annular flange 12a. A discharge elbow 13 is welded The elbow has a peripheral groove 13a which denes a break line, or zone of reduced strength, at which the lower part of the elbow may shear oi if the tank Vrolls over, or is otherwise involved in a collision.

My emergency valve structure is supported on the iloor of the drain pocket on three legs14, 1S and 16. The leg 14 which is shown in section in FIGS. l and 3 is hollow to provide an air passage for supplying iluid power to operate the valve, as will appear. Referring to FIG. 2,

each leg has a threaded extension, 14a for leg 14, which passes through an `aperture in the floor of drain pocket 12, and which is'secured by a pair of nuts 17 and 18 on opposite faces of the drain pocket Hoor. One or both nuts may retain a sealing washer '19. Compressed air can be admitted to hollow leg 14 Athrough fitting 20 and pipe 21 which is in communication with a source of fluid power.

T-he Xed member of the valve assembly, namely the valve seat, is provided by the -annul-ar rim around the port in the drain pocket 12. The movable member or valve head consists of a disc 24 having three spaced bosses 24a which have a limited span of vertical movement on legs 14, 15 :and 16. Disc 24 has a downward projection 24b located centrally and threaded to receive a clampingnut 25. A sealing member 26 is gripped between nut 25 and disc 24.

Fixed on top of legs 14, 1S and 16 is `au expansion chamber 23 dened by a saucerlike pressure plate 27, an overlying imperforate diaphragm 28 which, in hydrocarbon fluid carriers is preferably made from a synthetic rubberlike material and a diaphragm retaining ring 29 which is .secured to the pressure, plate 27 around its peripheral edge, by a plurality of bolts 30.

A deep-drawn cup or dome 33 is attached to the ilanged periphery of disc 24 by studs 32 (FIG. 5), and is capable of upward Iand downward movement with the valve head disc `24. It has a central boss 34 depending from its upper inner wall which is adapted to be contacted by diaphragm 28 when lfluid power is admitted to chamber 23. Compressed air,in the present instance, is admitted through supply pipe 21 and fitting 20 into hollow leg 14 and upwardly to passage 35 in the top of the leg, and then through aperture 36 'into pressure chamber 23. Introduction of compressed air raises the diaphragm 2S to contact with boss 34 and thereupon lifts the dome 33 which carries .the -valve head disc 24 and sealing washer 26, permitting passage of luid from the tank to discharge elbow 13. When the valve head is raised to the position shown in FIG. 3 the only elements in the path of liquid ilow are the three legs 14, 1S and 16. When compressed air ow is cut oit, and vented rearwardly by the control valve (not shown) a compression spring 37 interposed between pressure plate 27 and valve head disc 24 biases the valve head downwardly to closed position.

A mesh screen collar 38 has an outturned flange 38a around its lower periphery, as best seen in FIG. 2. A clamping ring 39 retains the collar in place, the ring being secured by threaded stud 40 and nut 41 Ias shown. Four such studs (FIG. 5) are disposed around the ange 38a. 'llhe screen intercepts solid objects which may have been inadvertently dropped in through an upper manhole.

The Valve head disc 24 is provided with spacedvdrain holes 44, outside the sealing area of course. The diaphragm retaining ring 29 may also be perforated at 29a to permit liquid which fills in above lthe diaphragm in the FIG. 2 position `to be pushed out when the diaphragm is raised to .the FIG.v 3 position.

Upward movement of the valve head disc stops when bosses 24a come to contact with a projection 14h on leg 14.

The valve 'assembly may Ibe removed as an assembled unit by disconnecting the air tting 20 and lremoving the three outer nuts 18. The upper manhole cover 46 (FIG. l) can be removed (frequently a hinged cover is provided) and the assembly can be lifted out through the manhole by means of a lifting hook or other means engageable with bail 47.

FIGS. 6 land 7 show a modified form of the invention wherein the valve may be removed either through the manhole on top, as i-n the structure of FIGS. 1 through 5, or through the bottom, las will now appear.

Referring to FIIGS. 6 and 7, ythe drain pocket 50 terminates at the inner circumferential edge 50a, leaving a horizontal annular` ange 50b to which an apertured plate 51 is Iattached by spiacedstuds 52 and nuts 53. The central aperture or port 54 is in ring plate 51 and the valve seat is provided by the corner 51a. The legs 55 protrude through plate 51 and are attached by means of nuts 56. The discharge tting 57 has a flange at 57a Which is attached to ring 51 by studs 58.

It will be apparent that by removal of nuts 53 the ring around the enclosure side of said port, an emergency valvel structure disposed entirely within said enclosure above and adjacent to said port, said valve structu-re comprising :a plurality of legs spaced in fixed position around said port and extending within said enclosure, a discharge valve adapted for movement into and out of sealing relationship with said valve seat, acup-shaped dome ixedly carried on said valve and having wall portions above and outwardly around said legs, a pressure chamber having on opposite sides a rigid wall and a flexible wall carried on top of said legs, said dome having an abutment part disposed adjacent said flexible wall, and means for admitting pressure uid to said pressure chamber whereby it moves said flexible wall into operative engagement with said abutment part to cause upward movement of said dome and opening movement of said valve.

2. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve has outwardly extending bearing portions disposed to have a sliding fit on said legs whereby to guide said valve in its movement between open and closed positions.

3. Means of the character described for controlling liquid discharge from a walled enclosure having a drain pocket depression in .a lower wall portion thereof and a port in said depression, said means including a valve seat around the enclosure side of said port, an emergency valve sructure disposed entirely within said enclosure above and adjacent to said port, said valve structure comprising a plurality of legs spaced in fixed position around said port and extending within said enclosure, a discharge valve adapted for movement into and out of sealing relationship with said valve seat, a pressure head carried on said legs, an impervious flexible diaphragm secured around its periphery in leakproof relationship'wwth said pressure head and disposed to enclose a pressure chamber between said head and said diaphragm, means providing a fluid pressure passage through one of sai-d legs into said pressure chamber, a movable cup-shaped housing disposed above said` legs and having a wall depending outwardly of said legs, means connecting said wall and said valve whereby movement of said housing moves said valve, said housing having an abutment part disposed adjacent said diaphragm whereby, when said diaphragm is moved by admission of fluid pressure to said pressure chamber it causes operative contact with said abutment part and opens said valve.

` References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,786 11i/,1935 rurs 1251-62 2,726,840 12/1955 Jurs e1 a1 251 62 `2,815,037 v12/1957 starren 1 251-61x FOREIGN PATENTS 512,895 2/1955 nary.

M. CA-RY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

A. JAF'FE, A. ROSENTHAL, Assistant Examiners. 

1. MEANS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID DISCHARGE FROM A WALLED ENCLOSURE HAVING A DRAIN POCKET DEPRESSION IN A LOWER WALL PORTION THEREOF AND A PORT IN SAID DEPRESSION, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A VALVE SEAT AROUND THE ENCLOSURE SIDE OF SAID PORT, AN EMERGENCY VALVE STRUCTURE DISPOSED ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE ABOVE AND ADJACENT TO SAID PORT, SAID VALUE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LEGS SPACED IN FIXED POSITION AROUND SAID PORT AND EXTENDING WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE, A DISCHARGE VALVE ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SEALING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID VALVE SEAT, A CUP-SHAPED DOME FIXEDLY CARRIED ON SAID VALVE AND HAVING WALL PORTIONS ABOVE AND OUTWARDLY AROUND SAID LEGS, A PRESSURE CHAMBER HAVING ON OPPOSITE SIDES A RIGID WALL AND A FLEXIBLE WALL CARRIED ON TOP OF SAID LEGS, SAID DOME HAVING AN ABUTMENT PART DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID FLEXIBLE WALL, AND MEANS FOR ADMITTING PRESSURE FLUID TO SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER WHEREBY IT MOVES SAID FLEXIBLE WALL INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ABUTMENT PART TO CAUSE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID DOME AND OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE. 